General:

Across the model line, the cars receive a facelift with "big doors", meaning the front doors no longer contain quarter glass, new trim, called "fat" trim, which is a fairly plain, 2.5" strip of bump trim on the body crease in the door (becuase of this, the GTI loses the side badges as well). It is also clipped to the body instead of glued. A new grille is used, with 3 slats instead of 7.
A new signal stalk type (commonly referred to as "big" stalks) is used, starting
at the beginning of the production year (7/87). A safety recall is issued due to
the new stalks not designating "Resume" on cruise control-enabled cars. "Res."
is written on stalks built after 10/87.
All remaining 8vs are now Digifant.
Upshift light made obsolete early in the model year (10/87 and after).
New rear badging has a centered VW logo (with no "Volkswagen" script, and a new
style font.
Last year of USA-built models, but some escape the factory as 1989 model year
cars.